Display stand



Nov. 14, 1967 A. VANDERSYS' 3,352,523

DISPLAY STAND Filed Nov. 26, 1965 FIG. 1 Q 2 Arthur VunderSys" I/VVEA/TOR BUC/(HOHW, BLO/PE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,352,523 DISPLAY STAND Arthur Vandersys, Portland, 0reg., assignor to Evans Products Company, Portland, 0reg., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 509,995 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-165) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A display stand for plywood panels having identical L-shaped plywood supporting members, each such member comprising a vertical leg, a ground engaging toe, and a rearwardly-extending heel, the leg having a verticallyextending slot formed in the top thereof. The supporting members are pivotally connected together in pairs through the heels, with the heels overlapping, the toes extending oppositely, and the legs parallel and vertical so that a panel can rest on the heels. A plywood crosspiece is removably received in the slot in the legs of those of the supporting members in contact with a common face of the panel, the crosspiece thus serving to tie the legs together.

This invention relates to display stands for plywood panels and the like and, more particularly, to a display stand in which such panels can be shown to their best merchandising advantage.

So that purchasers may best view prefinished decorative paneling of plywood and the like, it is desirable that the panels be displayed vertically. Such panels are usually in eight foot lengths, and obviously are somewhat unwieldy and must be firmly supported when displayed. A display stand for such panels should, of course, be so designed as to permit easy substitution of panels without damage to the panels.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved display stand for large plywood panels and the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a stand in which decorative panels may be supported without injury or defacement and from which the panels may be readily removed, thereby to permit quick substitution of one for another.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide such a display stand which can be economically manufactured.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The display stand of the present invention is made of a number of substantially identically-shaped parts, which parts are themselves ideally suited to being made from plywood. The display stand is also so constructed that the weight of the panels that it supports is used to provide the necessary clamping action, thereby to hold the panels securely in place and yet to permit them to be easily removed without damage to their faces. The heavier the weight of the panels that are supported, the firmer the grip that the display stand provides.

For a more detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display stand of the present invention, showing the same supporting two large upright plywood panels;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the display stand shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of two of the parts of the display stand, showing their method of connection.

Referring to the drawings, the display stand of the present invention is designed to support decorative panels ice 11 of plywood, hardboard or the like, which when vertically supported extend more than eight feet in height. Such panels, when prefinished, are often displayed in multiples of two, back to back, with their finished sides exposed for elfective mechandising. Thus, two such panels 11 are shown in the drawings, although, of course, it should be understood that the display stand of the instant invention would work equally as well with only one panel.

The display stand 10 is formed of two pairs 12 of substantially identical L-shaped supporting members 14. Each individual supporting member 14 may be cut from plywood and is identical to each of the other supporting members 14. As such, each member 14 has a toe portion 16 and an upper or leg portion 17, as shown. Each of the supporting members 14 is also provided with a rearwardly extending heel 18, which has a substantially horizontal upper surface 19 on which the plywood panels 11 rest.

The supporting members 14 are pivotally connected together to form a pair through the rearwardly extending heels 18 by suitable means, such as a bolt 26 and nut 27. Each of the toe portions 16 is arranged so as to be pivotal with respect to the ground, as, for example, by providing the same with a rocker-shaped bottom surface, as shown, but preferably by providing a roller or caster 28, which has the further advantage of increasing the mobility of the stand. The roller or caster 28 is mounted on the bottom of each of the toe portions 16, as shown.

Each of the supporting members 14 is also provided with a rubber bumper 25 at the rear of each of the leg portions 17, which rubber bumper serves as a stop when said leg portion contacts the opposed faces of the panels 11. By this form of construction the weight of the panels 11 on the rearwardly extending heels 18 causes the toe portions 16 to rotate about the casters 28 and the L- shaped members 14 to pivot about the bolts 26. This causes the rubber bumpers 25 on the upper or leg portions 17 to come into contact with the opposed faces of the panels 11, thereby to support the same securely. Thus, it is seen that the heavier the weight of the panels 11 on the heels 18, the firmer the support that will be exerted on the faces thereof.

Each of the members 14 is also provided with a vertically extending slot 20 formed at the top of the leg portion 17 thereof, in which slot is received a plywood crosspiece 22 which serves as a tying member. The crosspiece 22, of course, only connects the leg portions 17 of those supporting members 14 which contact a common face of a panel 11. The crosspiece 22 is itself provided with upwardly extending slots 24 adjacent to each end, so that it may be received into the corresponding slots 20 in the leg portions 17 (see FIG. 3). The crosspieces 22 may also conveniently be made of plywood.

When it is desired to remove one set of panels 11 and insert another, the clamping force is relieved merely by lifting the panels 11 upwardly. This permits them to be removed quickly and easily, and without injury to their finished faces.

Finally, a cap 30 is provided to fit over the top edges of the panels 11, thereby to maintain them snugly together.

It will thus be evident that the display stand 10 of the present invention accomplishes all of the objects above stated and does so in a most economical manner. This is especially due to the fact that the four supporting members 14 are substantially identical, and also that the two required crosspieces 22 are substantially identical. Manufacturing eificiency is thus inherent in the design.

In the foregoing description, the invention has been described with reference to a certain particular preferred embodiment, although it is to be understood that the specific details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be carried out in other Ways without departing from the true spirit and scope of the following appended claim.

I claim: In combination, a vertically-extending panel of plywood or the like; two pairs of substantially identical L-shaped plywood members for supporting said panel, one of each of said pairs of supporting members being positioned adjacent each of the side edges of said panel, each of said supporting members comprising a substantially-vertical leg, a pivotable ground-engaging toe, and a rearWardly-extending heel, each of said legs having a vertically-extending slot formed in the top thereof, each of said toes having a rocker-shaped bottom surface, each of said pairs of supporting members being pivotally connected together through said rearwardlyextending heels and with said heels overlapping one another, said toes extending oppositely with respect to each other, and said legs extending vertically in substantially parallel relation, said panel resting on said heels;

stop means in the form of a resilient bumper attached to the rear of each of the upper portions of said legs for engaging the opposed faces of said panel; and

a plywood crosspiece removably received in said slots in the legs of those of said supporting members in contact with a common face of said panel, said crosspiece tying said legs together, whereby the weight of said panel on said heels causes said toes to rotate upwardly and brings said stop means into contact with said opposed faces of said panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,343,526 6/1920 Smith 248-173 X 2,474,763 6/ 1949 Thomas 21 l42 X 2,718,080 9/1955 Eaton 40-l25 ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner, 

